Jalandhar, August 31
Scores of parents and teachers who gathered today at the District Welfare Office (DWO) to submit the minority scholarship scheme forms had to return empty handed after the authorities concerned refused to accept their forms.

The last date of submitting the forms was August 31. Earlier the parents had approached the authorities on Friday in this regard but were refused on the grounds that the official details of the child should be provided in the form of a CD.

Today when parents came equipped with necessary details, they were told that the forms were already been sent to the Secretary, Welfare Department, Chandigarh.

The agitated parents maintained that they have been running from pillar to post to get things done but to no avail.

“Even if today was the last date of submitting the forms, the authorities should have waited till the official time of 5 pm. How can they send the forms early in the morning,” rued Dalwant Singh, a parent.

Among the teachers was Sister Litty from St. Francis Convent School, Kartarpur, who came to submit the forms of nearly 65 students.

“The authorities should have told us on Friday that the forms would be not accepted on Monday. We rushed early in the morning to submit the forms,” she added.

Another teacher Sister Amala from Adampur branch of the same school maintained that the government failed to publicise the scheme.

“We got to know about the scheme through newspapers, which led to confusion in the end,” she added.

Tarsem Peter, president of Pendu Mazdoor Union, leading parents at the DAC, said they would raise their voice against the red-tapism of the authorities concerned.

“The indifferent attitude of the government paralysed the otherwise beneficial scheme for the minorities,” he maintained.

Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu maintained that people were late in submitting the forms.

“It was already declared that August 31 was the last date of submitting the forms. They should have acted well on time,” he said.

It might be noted that the ambitious scholarships and Means-cum-Merit scheme for minorities students is the brainchild of the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The scheme was part of the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities.

Adequate police, including a company of Punjab police commandos, has been deployed in and around the Civil Hospital where she is still undergoing treatment.

Gurdaspur, August 31
The double tragedy seems to have struck a family of Nushera village falling under Dinanagar police station in this district when one of its residents Satnam Singh committed suicide after consuming some poisonous substance.

Three days ago, Satnam Singh’s wife Kashmir Kaur committed suicide along with her five-year-old son Amritpal Singh by jumping before a running train on the Pathankot- Amritsar rail track. She had held her minor son in her lap before committing suicide.

Komal Preet Kaur, the school-going minor girl, has become orphan as her parents and brother have died within a period of four days.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that though the railway police is still investigating the matter to find out as to what drove Kashmir Kaur to commit suicide, the body of Satnam Singh was found near Dhussi bundh, 4 km from his village, today.

A vial of poisonous substance was found near the body. Satnam Singh was working in the Punjab Police Department.

He had been missing from his house ever since his wife, along with his son,
committed suicide.

The parents of Kashmir Kaur had levelled allegations against Satnam Singh for harassing their daughter.

The police has registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC in connection with the death of Satnam Singh.

Gurdaspur, August 31
Ganesh Dutt, a young tantrik, who came from Jammu district to remove the evil spirits from the body of Wajeera, a youth of Baupur Jattan village in this district, was reportedly murdered by the latter when the former was in sleep at Wajeera’s house late last night.

A case in this connection has been registered at Dorangla police station against Wajeera under section 302, of the IPC. Whether Wajeera has been arrested or not could not be known immediately.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that Ganesh Dutt, who slept with Wajeera to catch the evil spirit, which had been harassing him (Wajeera) for the past many years, died after Wajeera repeatedly attacked on his (Ganesh Dutt) neck with a sickle at the dead of night.

Ganesh Dutt was a disciple of famous tantrik of Jammu area Charan Dass. His murder came to the notice of the family members of Wajeera this morning only. Ganesh Dutt was brought to Baupur Jattan village by Raj Kumar, cousin of Wajeera.

Information revealed that Wajeera, whose behaviour was erratic and who would do stupid things, was getting treatment from tantriks instead of medical practitioner.

His family members were having more faith in tantriks and they had been taking him to different tantriks for the past many years.

Ganesh Dutt, after reciting a few “mantras”, declared that he would sleep with Wajeera so that he would be able to catch the evil spirit that had been haunting and harassing Wajeera for the past many years.

He claimed that he would kill the evil spirit. However, instead of killing the evil spirit, he lost his own life.

His body has been sent to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. His kin had also been informed by the police about his murdered.

Gurdaspur, August 31
Two persons were killed and nine other injured when a bus and truck collided head on this morning on the Pathankot-Amritsar national highway near Dinanagar police station of the district.

Police sources said Puneet Chopra, a resident of Jugial village, died on the spot while another commuter, Rajesh Kumar, died while being taken to a hospital in Amritsar. Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Habit Pindi village, was working in the Punjab Police.

The sources said both drivers of the bus and truck could not control their vehicles, which collided head on. Residents of nearby areas came to the rescue of the injured and took them to hospital.

Those injured were identified as Sandeep Sharma, Sheela, Asheesh Sharma, Kartar Singh, Dinesh, Munish, Pammi, Sukhwinder Singh and Ravinder Pal.

His two daughters were also injured. The police has registered a case and has also impounded the vehicles.